News

Police Accuse Five Suspects of Killing Man They Thought Was a Skinhead

(December 11, 2008)

Police in St. Petersburg, Russia detained five natives of the Republic
of Kabardino-Balkariya in connection with the murder of an ethnic
Russian former Olympic champion, according to a December 9, 2008
article in the local supplement to the national daily "Kommersant."
According to police, on January 1, 2005 the five suspects were
celebrating the New Year in their dormitory when a Chinese student ran
into their room and told them that neo-Nazis were hanging out near the
dorm. St. Petersburg is notorious for its violent neo-Nazi groups,
who regularly beat or even kill minorities. The suspects reportedly
ran outside intending to attack the neo-Nazis, but instead found
Dmitry Nelyubin, a 1988 Olympic champion in bicycling, walking with
his wife. One of the suspects reportedly stabbed him to death, and
then fled to scene, making efforts to destroy evidence by burning
their clothing and smashing up the murder weapon. Police nevertheless
identified them as suspects, but as a result of intimidation, dozens
of witnesses allegedly threw off the investigation by testifying that
the men were inside the dorm when the killing happened. A security
guard then allegedly falsified his log in order to cover up his
negligence of duty. Eventually, the police figured this out and
charged the five suspects with murder. It is not mentioned in the
report if the false witnesses will face any charges.